Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Net Worth, Biography, Cars And Houses

Ever read/heard about the award-winning novel, Purple Hibiscus? Or Half of a Yellow-sun? If you answered ‘Yes’ to either of those questions, then you must have come across the name Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

And even if you answered ‘No’ to both questions; today is the day you would hear about the brilliant author of those two great books. Today’s article on Carmart Nigeria shines the spotlight on one of the best writers in Africa history- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Profile

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Biography

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian-born writer who has written books that garnered both local and international acclaim. Born on the 15th of September, in 1977, she described her childhood as a ‘very happy childhood, full of laughter and love, in a very close-knit family.’ The fifth of six children, Adichie was born in a middle-class family to James Nwoye Adichie and Grace Ifeoma. 

Her father, James Adichie was a Professor of Statistics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who later went on to become the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the university. Similarly, Chimamanda’s mother, Grace Adichie was the first female registrar at the same institution. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie had her secondary school education at a university school where she earned various academic awards. 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie studied Medicine at the University of Nigeria for a year and a half. At the age of 19, she travelled to the United States to begin her studies in Communications at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

After two years at Drexel, she transferred to Eastern Connecticut State University to finish her studies. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie actively contributed articles to the Campus Lantern, which was the university’s journal. In 2001, Adichie graduated summa cum laude from the institution with a degree in communication and political science. 

In 2003 and 2008, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie earned a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and MA in African studies from Johns Hopkins University and Yale University respectively. During the 2005-2006 academic year, she was a Hodder fellow at Princeton University in New Jersey. As a mark of recognition of her brilliance, she was awarded a MacArthur fellowship in 2008. Also, she was awarded a 2011-2012 fellowship by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Writing Career

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s original inspiration for writing came from the famous Nigerian actor, Chinua Achebe. She read his book ‘Things Fall Apart’ when she was 10 years old and was enamoured by how her life was represented in between the pages. 

She published a collection of poems in 1997 titled Decisions and a play titled For Love of Biafra in 1998. She was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story “You in America” in 2002. 

Her first novel ‘Purple Hibiscus’ which she published in 2003 earned her further awards and recognition. This novel was received both locally and internationally with wide critical acclaim. She was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction (2004) and was awarded the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book (2005). 

In 2006, she released her second novel titled ‘Half of a yellow sun’ which was based on the short-lived nation of Biafra. Her third novel ‘Americanah’, released in 2013 exuded the characteristic articulate and emotive imagination skills of Chimamanda Adichie. The book was based on the racial difference she experienced when she first moved to the United States for her higher studies. 

She is also the author of ‘The Thing Around Your Neck (2009), a collection of 12 stories that explore the relationships between men and women, parents and children, Africa and the United States. 

Other books, short stories and fiction written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie include Dear Ijeawele or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions; Zikora; Notes on Grief etc.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Personal Life

Chimamanda describes herself as a feminist. In an interview in 2014, she said “I think of myself as a storyteller but I would not mind at all if someone were to think of me as a feminist writer… I’m very feminist in the way I look at the world, and that worldview must somehow be part of my work.” 

She has given a number of highly-viewed TedEx lectures some of which includes: the danger of a single story; we should all be feminists, etc.

She got married to Ivara Esege, a Nigerian doctor in 2009, and the union was blessed with a baby girl. 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie takes writing workshops and lectures in both Nigeria and the United States.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Net Worth

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the most successful female writers in Nigeria and Africa at large. Her net worth is estimated at $500,000.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Cars

Being a wealthy and influential writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie might have one or more cars to convey her during her official trips. While there is no public knowledge of any of her personally-owned vehicles, we suspect that she can afford to own one;

• Mercedes Benz AMG C63

The luxury AMG C63 provides a cool and excellent ride, especially for influencers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. You can get the Mercedes Benz AMG either as a coupe, sedan, or convertible. This car features a SiriusXM satellite radio that comes with a six-month trial, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth audio streaming. This car has a starting cost of 65 million NGN.

• Lexus LX 570

Lexus is characterized by producing quality cars built for the best performance and comfort. With a 5.7-litre V8 that generates 403 lb-ft of torque, Lexus LX 570 is one of the most challenging models of the Lexus car brand. The car costs approximately N75 million.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie House

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie splits her time between Nigeria and the United States. She lives in the Baltimore suburbs, US  with her husband and child. When she comes to Nigeria, she has a home in Lagos where she stays.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Awards And Recognitions

• Caine Prize for African Writing ‘You in America’ 2002
• Commonwealth Short Story Competition, ‘The Tree in Grandma’s Garden’, 2002
• BBC Measuring Competition, ‘That Harmattan Morning’ 2002
• David T. Wong International Short Story Prize (PEN American Center Award), ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, 2002/2003
• O. Henry Prize, ‘The American Embassy’, 2003
• Hurston-Wright Legacy Award: Best Debut Fiction Category, ‘Purple Hibiscus’, 2004
• Orange Prize, ‘Purple Hibiscus’, 2004
• Booker Prize, ‘Purple Hibiscus’, 2004
• Young Adult Library Services Association Best Books for Young Adults Award, ‘Purple Hibiscus’, 2004
• John Llewelllyn Rhys Prize, ‘Purple Hibiscus’, 2004/2005
• Commonwealth Writers’ Prize: Best First Book (Africa), ‘Purple Hibiscus’, 2005
• Commonwealth Writers’ Prize: Best First Book (Overall), ‘Purple Hibiscus’, 2005
• National Book Critics Circle Award, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, 2006
• British Book Awards: Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, 2007
• James Tait Black Memorial Prize, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, 2007
• Anisfield-Wolf Book Award: Fiction category ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, 2007
• PEN Beyond Margins Award, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, 2007
• Orange Broadband Prize: Fiction Category, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, 2007
• International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, 2008
• Future Award, Nigeria: Young Person of the Year Category, 2008
• MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant, 2008
• International Nonino Prize, 2009
• Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’, 2009
• John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’, 2009
• Commonwealth Writers’ Prize: Best Book (Africa) ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’, 2010